Aston Villa took a massive step towards one of their key targets with a 4-3 victory over Sunderland.
The Villans continued their fine form in front of goal from midweek as Ollie Watkins netted twice in the first half and Morgan Rogers nailed another finish just moments after the restart. Chris Rigg had levelled the score after Watkins’ first goal, but by the time that a 3-1 scoreline had emerged, it seemed sensible to think that the contest was over, and the home supporters were satisfied at Villa Park.
But in the blink of an eye, Wilson Isidor and Trai Hume had brought the guests level, and an injury time transition should have seen **Sunderland**take the lead for the first time on the afternoon. Instead, there was a last-gasp hurrah for the hosts, whose substitute striker Tammy Abraham delivered again.
Story of the Match
Regis Le Bris brought out the same starting eleven that he used in a 1-0 triumph over Tottenham. Luke O’Nien led the group from the back, supported by the typical trio of Reinildo Mandava, Omar Alderete and Nordi Mukiele. Granit Xhaka, Habib Diarra and Noah Sadiki sat in the midfield. Chris Rigg and Enzo La Fee featured as supporting acts for the side’s striker Brian Brobbey.
Unai Emery decided to use eight members of the lineup that he picked against **Bologna**in the Europa League in midweek. Tyrone Mings took the place of **Pau Torres**in central defence next to Ezri Konsa, while Lucas Digne gave way to **Ian Maatsen**on the left of the back four. Further afield, **Morgan Rogers**moved to the left of the midfield, and Ross Barkley displaced Emiliano Buendia.
The Villans had blasted **Bologna**for four on Thursday at Villa Park, and supporters would soon be treated to another sharp start on home soil. John McGinn made an underlapping run on the right side of the pitch, and Matty Cash clipped a pass down the line for his teammate to chase. The captain then turned the ball aerially towards the far post, where **Ollie Watkins**would have the easiest of finishes.
But unlike in midweek, the lead did not last for long at all. Mukiele manoeuvred down the right flank, holding off Maatsen before finding the angle to fire a delivery into the penalty area. Sadiki shifted towards the ball before Amadou Onana had dropped off to marshal the penalty spot, and his layoff allowed Rigg to rattle home a strike as he registered the first goal of his Premier League career.
Onana attempted to respond immediately when the Villans had their own opportunity to pepper the penalty area with quality service. From their first corner of the contest, McGinn put the ball into a dangerous area, and the midfielder planted a bullet header towards the goal, hitting the crossbar.
The action would start to settle into a more balanced affair at this point. The Black Cats continue to command the basics of defensive discipline and physicality well, trading jabs with their opposition.
But eventually, the advantage would be restored. Rogers danced on the ball from the left wing, taking his time to thread a pass down the line for the underlapping Maatsen. As the left back hit the byline, Watkins disengaged from O’Nien, peeling into his blindside, and he was handed a simple finish.
A substandard clearance from Mings meant Onana had to deny an opening for Sadiki, but Villa could go into the dressing room at half time with the knowledge that the clash was in their hands.
The start of the second half mirrored the manner of the first. The Villans broke away into space, and their attackers combined seamlessly to stun Sunderland. Barkley fed the ball to Watkins, who had pulled to his left, and the late arriving Rogers was then assisted first time to complete the move.
At the hour mark, Le Bris brought on the reinforcements. **Trai Hume**had come on for Reinildo, and **Dan Ballard**switched in for Alderete as the partner to O’Nien. It was the second substitute who helped to obstruct the progress of Watkins, who was on the hunt for his hat-trick. A Rogers cutback narrowly eluded his teammate on the stretch, and a bobbling McGinn pass could not be converted.
There would be no hat-trick for Watkins, who made way for **Tammy Abraham**in the 80th minute. Sancho swapped in for McGinn as Emery trusted his team to take responsible choices at the end.
But no one could be prepared for the madness that was imminent. Sancho took a loose touch that allowed Hume to recover possession, and he smartly snookered a strike into the roof of the net.
Emery’s men tried to clap back straightaway, striding through the centre of the park at the kick-off. But La Fee threw himself into a well-timed tackle on Sancho, and the midfielder picked out a pinpoint pass that split the central defenders. Wilson Isidor, who had just replaced Brobbey upfront, was set to strike in a 1 v 1 duel with Emiliano Martinez, and his clinical shot made that opportunity count.
The hosts were at sixes and sevens: another deep ball released Sadiki to turn the field for the Black Cats, and Konsa had to scramble the danger away, using his head to clear the ball as he slipped.
La Fee had found his range, and Diarra tore through the gaping hole in the Villa backline. He was supported by Chemsdine Talbi to his right for a tap-in, but he backed himself to dink the ball above the goalkeeper. However, the outstretched arm of Martinez made sure the midfielder was frustrated.
The Villans were on their bikes once more in this manic encounter, and as Rogers powered through midfield, Mukiele dived into a duel, receiving a yellow card. Nothing would come from the following free kick, or the attempt of Buendia to catch Robin Roefs on the touchline after his misplaced punt.
The game was kept away from Martinez for long enough to ensure Villa would walk away with all three points. Back level with Manchester United on a 58-point tally, a top five place is nearly secure.